Dozens of Medical Professionals Charged in Federal Opioid Sting
As reported by NPR, On Wednesday, April 17, Federal prosecutors announced that they are charging 31 doctors, seven pharmacists, seven other licensed medical professionals and eight nurse practitioners for alleged opioid pushing and health care fraud involving 350,000 prescriptions for controlled substances. The charges are a result of work by the Justice Department’s newly formed Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force. Fourteen health care fraud prosecutors were sent to regions of Appalachia known for rampant opioid abuse, overdoses and deaths in order to build cases. The work began in January, 2019 when they used data analysis to find outliers in opioid prescriptions. From there prosecutors issued search warrants.
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Ex Volkswagen CEO Charged with Fraud in Diesel Emissions Scandal
As reported by ABC news, Ex Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn and four others were charged by German prosecutors on Monday, April 15 for fraud in the emissions cheating scandal and unfair competition.
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Canadian Women Bring Medical Malpractice Lawsuit For Improper Use of Labor Inducing Drug
As reported by Global News, New Brunswick’s largest health authority and one of their now former obstetrics nurses are named as defendants in a proposed class action lawsuit. The lawsuit, brought by two of at least a dozen women who were affected by this behavior, alleges that the nurse improperly administered labor-inducing drugs by adding the drug to IV saline bags hooked up to pregnant women. The drug oxycontin was allegedly administered without the knowledge or consent of the mothers. The women allege that the Moncton Hospital either knew or should have known that their nurse was allegedly improperly administering the drugs. They also argue that the health authority could have done more to prevent this from happening by acting on their knowledge that “the hospital…performed an unusually high number of emergency c-section and instrument-assisted deliveries.”
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After 10 Infant Deaths, Fisher-Price Issues Warning About Rock ‘N Play
On April 5, 2019 Fisher-Price and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released a warning to parents and caregivers about the Rock ‘N Play. The warning came in response to the company receiving reports of deaths involving the infant product; a total of 10 since 2015. The deaths happened when babies rolled from their backs to their stomachs or sides while unrestrained. The press release issued by CPSC noted that all 10 infants were three months of age or older.
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Are Motorcycles Safe?
Now that spring is here along with warmer temperatures, more people are bringing their motorcycles out of the garage. Many love the feel of riding a motorcycle but it’s clear that in a motor vehicle crash, motorcyclists are a lot more vulnerable to injury than a driver protected by a car. For those considering getting a motorcycle, safety considerations should be made.
Are motorcycles safe?
Motorcycles are much less safe than motor vehicles for the following reasons:
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Massachusetts Sues the Maker of Oxycontin for Role in Opioid Crisis
Drug overdoses are the leading cause of death among Americans under the age of 50 and the numbers have been getting worse every year. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 52,404 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2015, 64,000 died in 2016, and 72,000 died in 2017. In fact, 2017 was the worst year ever for drug overdose deaths in America with almost 200 people dying of drug overdoses every day. Clearly opioids have caused a crisis in this country.
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Honda Recalls 1.1 Million Vehicles After Air Bag Injury
In another blow to airbag manufacturer Takata, Honda chose to recall 1.1 million Acura and Honda vehicles in the United States after a Takata air bag inflator injured a driver. The Takata airbags, that are already linked to the biggest automotive recall in U.S. history, can explode and shoot pieces of sharp metal at the driver and passengers when the air bag inflator is deployed during a crash. Ironically, the air bag inflators are meant to be a safety feature.
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Who’s at Fault in a Hydroplaning Accident?
Driving in heavy rain is dangerous because it makes the roads slippery and reduces visibility. These factors dramatically increase the risk of car accidents, including rear-end and single-vehicle accidents caused by hydroplaning. The first 10 minutes of rain are the most dangerous time for rain-related car accidents because the oil from the roadway comes up and mixes with the water, making a very slippery surface.
What is hydroplaning?
Hydroplaning is when water stays between the tire and the road, disconnecting the tire from the road and making the car glide on top of the water. (Normally water flows through the tire’s tread and is then brushed aside). Drivers struggle to maintain control of their vehicles while hydroplaning because the drag from the water pulls one side of the vehicle making the tires on the other side slow down. This pulls the vehicle in the direction of the slower side and makes the car spin.
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Whatcom County Residents Overconfident about Ability to Navigate Roundabouts
As local drivers are aware, many single-lane and double-lane roundabouts have been installed around Washington state in the last decade as a way to reduce car accident injuries and keep traffic moving more smoothly. Studies have shown that roundabouts are safer than traditional stop signs or signal-controlled intersections, according to the Washington state Department of Transportation.
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Personal Injury Claim for Bullying
Bullying is a serious problem that has always affected children. In recent years, researchers, school teachers and administrators, and families have begun to take the issue more seriously. Sincere attempts are being made to catch warning signs and step in when a child is at risk.
There are no easy answers to solving the problem of bullying but bullying prevention approaches that offer the best results involve coming at the problem from multiple sides.